Category: News

A fire broke out on the eighth floor of Dickey Tower early in the morning of Friday, Nov. 7. The USM police and Gorham Fire Department have determined arson was the probable cause. The exact cause of the fire is confidential because the investigation is in progress.

Saridel Hel says he attracts a lot of attention with his “spectrum analysis rig,” a grey pushcart with a wooden board bolted vertically to its side. The board holds a white bubble the size of a softball about eight feet in the air. Hel, a senior economics major, uses an iBook and maps of campus’s buildings, along with the cart, to do what he calls a “spectrum inventory” of the campus, shop-talk for the research he is doing to prepare for the introduction of wireless networking at USM.

The Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity recently put a down payment on their house despite financial setbacks last spring that nearly had the national charter derecognizing their chapter.

“It’s a better opportunity for them than renting,” said Dean of Student Life Joe Austin.

Next spring, The University of Southern Maine will hold its first student research, scholarship and creativity symposium called “Thinking Matters” on the Portland campus. This will be an annual event where students from all academic disciplines can present and receive feedback on papers or posters.

WMPG won two awards from this year’s Maine Association of Broadcasters (MAB) convention. The Blunt Youth Radio Project won first place in the Public Affairs division for their series “Incarcerated Youth Speaks Out.” In the feature division, Rob Rosenthal’s production of “Portland Reacts to 9/11” won third place.

Nov. 7

A backpack was stolen from a building on the Gorham campus. The case is under investigation.

Nov. 7

A student in Philippi Hall reported that some items had been taken from her room. The case is under investigation.

Nov. 8

Someone called the USM police to report a male and a female student were trying to rip a tree out together near Philippi Hall.

New Muslim student group holds end-of-Ramadaan feast

The newly forged Muslim Student Association is celebrating the inception of their student group and the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadaan, on Dec. 4 from 12:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be traditional food, and all students are invited.

Maine voters approved a bond issue last week that will provide $19 million to public schools and libraries throughout the state. The UMaine System (UMS) will receive $4.5 million from the bond, which will be used to upgrade classrooms and science labs on all seven campuses.

Monday

Open mic

The Free Street Taverna, at 128 Free Street in Portland, hosts a hip hop open mic night with Boondox. Signup is at 8 p.m. The rapping commences shortly thereafter. Ages 21 and over are welcome.

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Tuesday

Music

Ani DiFranco performs at the Portland Expo Building, 239 Park Ave.

President Richard Pattenaude sat as a panelist in a teleconference that was viewed nationally by some 200 universities and community colleges. Pattenaude accepted an invitation to speak as one of four panelists in a nationwide conference broadcast by satellite.

There has been some possible vandalism of the signs marking smoking areas on the Gorham campus. Some smoking signs and picnic tables in designated areas have been damaged or are missing.

Craig Hutchinson, vice president of Student and University Life said though there is no hard evidence, this might be connected to the changes in smoking policy.

President Richard Pattenaude sent a letter this week to all University of Southern Maine faculty and staff informing them about a survey they would receive addressing high-risk alcohol consumption among college students. In the letter he explained the survey is part of a grant-funded effort to reduce high-risk drinking behaviors among students and is not about faculty and staff’s substance use.

Bill McKibben was not always interested in the elements of a sustainable lifestyle. In college, working as a reporter for his university newspaper, he was not educated about his consumption habits or the meaning of sustainability. Not until he started living in the big apple, working for The New Yorker, did a passion begin to grow in him.

The executive board of the student senate met recently to discuss an incident involving employees of the Free Press. The incident started when Christy McKinnon, the executive editor of the Free Press, held a function for Free Press employees that consisted of a get-together at McKinnon’s house and a trip to the Haunted Hayrides in Gorham.

Words and Images held its first ever kick-off event last Wednesday in the Woodbury Campus Center in Portland. The event officially opened the door for applicants to submit their poetry, short stories, and artwork to the yearly publication. Notable authors contributed to the event by reading their work.

USM signs transfer agreement with YCCC

USM will now automatically enroll graduates of YCCC’s associate degrees as juniors at USM. The colleges have cooperated on a system that makes the transition from the community school to USM as seamless as possible.

Oct. 28

Criminal Mischief: A snack machine in Philippi Hall was burglarized. The case is under investigation.

Oct. 29

There is an ongoing drug investigation on the Portland campus.

Oct. 29

A locker in Corthell Hall was burglarized. Some things were stolen and damaged.

Members of the Student Senate voiced concern on Oct. 23 over stickers affixed to the handsets of phones on the Portland campus, including ones in the Student Senate office and WMPG. The stickers bear the statement: “DO NOT DISCUSS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION: This telephone is subject to monitoring at all times.

MONDAY

Craft workshop

The People’s Free Space Free School will hold a craft workshop in knitting, crocheting, soap making and pumpkin pie baking in the Community Room at Unity Village, 24 Stone St, behind Portland City Hall. It begins at 6:30 p.m and is free.

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A former Student Senator’s resignation letter accuses University officials of discrimination and drug trafficking. In a letter that was also sent to The Free Press and WMPG via Email, Moses Sawyer charges President Pattenaude with ignoring Sawyer’s letters and visits.

Convocation’s keynote speech this week

The keynote speaker of this year’s convocation, author Bill McKibbon arrives on campus this week. He will speak at 2:45 p.m. and at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6 in the Luther Bonney Auditorium in Portland. His appearance is free and open to the public.

Nationally published author Jonathan Lethem read from his new novel “The Fortress of Solitude” as part of Words and Images’ kickoff to their open call for submissions, last Wednesday night in Portland’s Woodbury Campus Center.

Lethem read a chapter from his latest novel, in which one of the characters tries to sell a movie pitch.

The Student Senate is contemplating implementing USA Today’s Collegiate Readership program, which will make copies of local, regional, and national newspapers available in all University of Southern Maine residence halls without charge. The papers are not free however, as the program would cost about ten tuition dollars per student every semester.